Eric Schultz/The Huntsville TimesMarty Siebert portrays Dr. William Burritt in front of Burritt's tomb during the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll Sunday. More than 200 years of history came alive for the annual event as costumed volunteers shared the stories of more than 65 notables, both famous and infamous, who shaped the future of Huntsville and Alabama.

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Maple Hill Cemetery came to life Saturday as hundreds of visitors walked the grounds and learned about Huntsville's history through the annual Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll.

More than 70 volunteers, in costumes ranging from hoop skirts to kilts, told the stories of some of Huntsville's most famous - and occasionally infamous - citizens. Celtic music and antique brass instruments helped provide a soundtrack to the history.

Favorite characters Tallulah Bankhead and Mollie Teal drew their typical large crowds as Bankhead, the legendary actress, visited her mother's grave and Teal, a madam whose establishment became the first Huntsville Hospital, discussed her life.

Volunteer Jan Dorning also drew a large crowd as Elizabeth Dale Gibbons Flanagan Jeffries High Brown Routt, known as the "Black Widow of Hazel Green." Her second of six husbands is buried in the cemetery.

Dorning said that she'd attended the cemetery stroll several times, but this was her first year participating.

"I love it, it gets better every time you go through it," Dorning said, her blue eyes shining. "People have been to the locations we're talking about and know the family names. It's interesting tying it all in with the history."

The stroll was nothing new for Huntsville city school board member Topper Birney, who portrayed his great-great-grandfather, James Gillespie Birney.

"I've done this for the past 12 years," Birney said.

James Birney, a two-term Huntsville mayor, was a jurist, abolitionist and a presidential candidate for the Liberty Party in 1840 and 1844. Though he is not buried at Maple Hill, his character was "visiting and conferring with friends," according to the event program.

The stroll, now in its 14th year, serves as a major fundraiser for the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association. The association is responsible for restoring the oldest sections of the cemetery, which is also the resting place of five Alabama governors.

"It's amazing as you're walking through here," said Skip Stinson, a member of the association who does restoration work at the cemetery. "You see the names on the stones, and these names are the names of our streets and our buildings. It's the city's history."

Perky Taylor, a member of the Pilgrimage Association's board, said all proceeds from the stroll and from the association's Historic Tour of Homes go toward restoration.

With the more than $245,878 raised since 1985, the association has completed restoration in 12 of the cemetery's 14 historic sections.

While the adult visitors were enthralled by the history Saturday, some of the children found themselves losing interest and playing among the headstones.

Monica Askew of Huntsville said she'd determined that her daughter, 8-year-old Marissa Askew, was not going to be a history buff. The duo was at the cemetery with friends Melanie Steadmon and her son, Lync Steadmon, also 8.

"The only one they really liked was the young Confederate soldier," Askew said. "He had Confederate money and they were really interested in that."

Marissa said her favorite part was the Celtic music, while Lync appeared fascinated by the monuments.

"It's beautiful, all the statues," Lync said.

Melanie Steadmon said she used to live in the nearby Five Points area and has never tired of Maple Hill.